Tips for more sustainable living

Every day you are using water and energy, and creating waste. That
means, every day you
are impacting the environment. These tips will help you make choices
with th
good of the environment in mind.

These are just a few tips, there are great many things any and all of
us can and should be doing to
help reduce consumption and impacts upon our environment.

Water

â—¦ Fix any leaky faucets, toilets or water pipes. Even a small drip
can add up to a lot of water over time.
â—¦ Wash your car the natural way - wait until it rains.
â—¦ Install water saving faucets.

Energy

â—¦ Conserve fuel by turning down the heat at night and while you are
away from your home — or install a programmable thermostat.
â—¦ Use compact fluorescent light bulbs.
â—¦ Insulate your home against heat loss and periodically check
insulation.
â—¦ Fix air leakage with weather-stripping and caulking.
â—¦ In the winter, change your furnace air filters once a month. The
heater uses more energy when it is full of dust.
â—¦ Insulate your electric hot water heater and pipes. Do not, however,
insulate gas heaters and only start insulating gas heater pipes about
six inches away from the heater.
◦ Avoid using cars — walk, cycle or use public transportation
whenever possible.
â—¦ Avoid anything battery operated (or use rechargables or solar
rechargables if batteries are unavoidable).
◦ Buy locally — not only is it good for the local economy, it will
save energy because products haven’t traveled across the globe to get
to you.

Toxics

â—¦ Use non-toxic cleaning alternatives in your home, such as the ones
listed below. â—¦ Furnish your home with furniture made out of natural
fibres, wood, metal and glass.
â—¦ Avoid the use of polyvinyl chloride (also known as PVC or vinyl) in
your home. The entire life-cycle of products made from PVC pollutes the
environment and your home. PVC items include shower curtains, flooring
and even some children’s toys.
â—¦ Avoid the use of aerosols.
â—¦ Use castor or mineral oils to lubricate switches and hinges instead
of lubricants containing solvents.
â—¦ Choose water based latex paints over solvent based paints when
painting your home. Never use lead-based paints.
â—¦ If you have a furnace, fireplace or gas heater, have them serviced
regularly to prevent deadly fumes and install a carbon monoxide
detector.
â—¦ Ensure you have good ventilation and balanced humidity in your home
to prevent the growth of mold and mildew which can be harmful to your
health.

Waste
â—¦ Do not throw out your toxic household wastes, such as paint, paint
thinner and car fluids, in the garbage or down the drain. Check with
your local facilities for proper disposal and avoid these products in
the future.
â—¦ Take your own bags to the grocery store. If you take plastic bags,
use them until they are worn out.
â—¦ Compost your food waste and use as nutrient rich soil for your lawn.
â—¦ Avoid excess packaging.
â—¦ Always use reusables: mugs, lunch containers, batteries, pens,
razors, etc.
â—¦ Replace paper products with reusable ones (use recycled,
non-chlorine bleached paper when you do have to use paper).

We are all part of the environment and what we do to the environment,
we do to ourselves.

This is one of the cornerstone messages of the environmental movement.
And in the same way that environmental degradation takes place in a
variety of forms, so too does environmental healing. The United States,
as one of the world’s largest consumers and waste producers, plays a
major role in the degradation of the earth. We must ALL be part of the
solution.

There are many ways you, as an individual, can step a little lighter on
the Earth. One of the simplest things you can do is to remember to
"reduce, reuse and recyle."

Reduce

Really, the best thing that we can do for the planet is to use less of
it. At the heart of the environmental crisis is our consumer society.
Here are a few questions you can ask yourself before you buy: Do I, or
the other person I am buying this for, really need this? Is there
another product which would do the same thing but more sustainably?
Will this last a long time? Do I know how this item was made, how it
will be used and how it will be disposed of? Where was this made and
under what circumstances? Are the materials used to make this renewable
and have they been harvested in a sustainable manner?

Reuse

Regrettably, because we live in a “disposable society,” we are
encouraged to buy a new and “improved” item even if the one we have can
be repaired. When we buy, we should buy items which are durable, we
should maintain them, and have them repaired when necessary. If we
practice this, many things cannot only last a lifetime, but can be
passed along from generation to generation. If something is truly
unusable for its original purpose, try to be creative and think of how
else it might be used. When you are done with it, think of whether
someone else might be able to use it as well.

Recycle

Rather than throwing an item out when neither you nor anyone else can
make use of it, have it recycled. And while recycling is not perfect —
it requires energy and the process of changing something into something
else often produces by-products — it is better than sending goods to
the landfill or having them incinerated.

Find out what types of materials can be recycled in your area. Clean
and sort the materials before putting them out on the curb — often
collectors will not pick up recycling that is mixed or contains
non-recyclables.
For more information on recycling, visit the National Recycling
Coalition website.

If you read the packaging of household cleaning products, you've
probably come across some words you've never seen before. Chances are,
if you can't pronounce it, it's not good for the environment. Try these
homemade concoctions instead.

All-Purpose Cleaner

â—¦ 1/2 cup (125 ml) pure soap
â—¦ 1 gallon (4 liters) hot water
â—¦ For a clean scent and to help cut grease add 1/4 cup (60 ml) of
lemon juice.
This solution is safe for all surfaces, should be rinsed with water,
and is very effective for most jobs. For a stronger cleaner, double the
amounts of soap and lemon juice.

Disinfectant

â—¦ Mix 50-100 ml of eucalyptus oil with a liter of water.
This can be used in a spray bottle, but remember to shake the mixture
before using to disperse the oil.

Scouring Powder

â—¦ Use a firm bristle brush and scrub with pure soap combined with
either table salt or baking soda.
â—¦ Baking soda alone on a damp sponge is also effective on most
surfaces. You can also personalize your scouring powder by adding an
aromatic herb or flower. Put the ingredients in a blender and run until
the fragrance has infused the powder.
â—¦ For oven spills, scrub using straight baking soda or combine with
the stronger version of the all purpose cleaner.
â—¦ Remember to wear gloves when scrubbing.

Air Fresheners

Commercial air fresheners work by masking smells and coating the nasal
passages with chemicals which diminish the sense of smell by deadening
the nerves. Avoid these products. Instead, try the all-natural air
purifiers — house plants. Or try these natural recipes to diminish odor
and add a fragrant smell to your house:
â—¦ Use baking soda in your garbage or refrigerator to help reduce
odors at their source.
â—¦ Dissolve 1 tsp (5 ml) of baking soda in 2 cups (500 ml) of hot
water, add 1 tsp (5 ml) lemon juice. Pour the solution into a spray
bottle and spray as you would an air freshener.
â—¦ Place a few slices of a citrus fruit, cloves or cinnamon in a pot
with enough water to simmer gently for an hour or two.

Liquid Dish Soap

Grate a bar of pure soap into a sauce pan. Cover with water and simmer
over low heat until they melt together. Add some vinegar to the water
for tough grease and to remove spots. Pour into a container and use as
you would any liquid dishwashing soap.

Mirrors, Glass and Windows

Wash with pure soap and water, rinse with a solution of 1 part vinegar
to 4 parts water. Use washable, reusable cheese clothes instead of
paper towels.

Carpets

To fully clean and deodorize carpets: vacuum, liberally sprinkle
cornstarch or baking soda, leave one hour, then vacuum again. For
tougher stains, try cold soda water or repeatedly blot with vinegar and
soapy water.

Polishes

Most store-bought polishes contain solvents harmful to the environment.
Aresol sprays are wasteful and also contain harmful gases.
â—¦ Furniture Polish: Dissolve 1 tsp (5 ml) lemon oil in 1 cup (250 ml)
vegetable oil. Apply with a clean dry rag.
â—¦ Floor Polish: Melt 1/8 cup (30 ml) paraffin wax in a double boiler.
Add 1 quart/liter mineral oil and a few drops of lemon oil. Apply with
a rag, allow to dry and polish.

Polishing Metals
â—¦ Copper: Try lemon juice and a little salt or hot vinegar and a
little salt on a rag.
â—¦ Chrome: Try white flour on a dry rag.
â—¦ Brass: Try equal parts salt and flour, with a little vinegar on a
dry rag.
â—¦ Silver: Bring to a boil in a large pan: 1 quart/litre water, 1 Tbsp
(15 ml) salt, 1 Tbsp (15 ml) baking soda and a strip of aluminum foil.
Drop in silver, boil for 3 minutes and polish with a soft cloth. Or
polish with a paste of wood ash and water. *Note* These methods should
be done on sterling silver only and not on silver plate.

Industry is by far the largest source of hazardous and toxic chemical
pollution. But many of us also contribute to pollution through the
cleaning products we choose, the gardening chemicals we use and the
energy we consume.

Protecting and preserving the environment starts right in your own
home. Here are some items that will not only save you money, but are
also safer for you, those you care about and for the environment.

Basic Ingredients

Each of the ingredients listed below can be found in grocery or health
food stores.

Pure Soap

For generations, people washed their clothes, their homes and
themselves with pure soap. Today, it is the key ingredient of many
alternative cleaning recipes. Soap biodegrades safely and completely,
and is non-toxic. Make sure that you use soap without synthetic scents,
colors or other additives. Even phosphate-free biodegradable laundry
detergent contributes to water pollution.

Vinegar (five percent acetic acid)

Vinegar is a mild disinfectant which cuts grease, cleans glass,
deodorizes and removes calcium deposits, stains and wax build-up.

Cornstarch

Cornstarch is an odorless powder which is great for carpet cleaning
and greasy stains.

Eucalyptus Oil

Eucalyptus oil is a good disinfectant and deodorizer. It gets rid of
some stains, like ink and grease, kills and repels some insects and
even attacks rust.

Washing Soda (Sodium Carbonate)

A key ingredient for washing clothes, washing soda cuts grease,
removes stains, disinfects and softens water. Washing soda should not
be used on aluminum.

Baking Soda (Bicarbonate of Soda)

Baking soda works well as an abrasive in alternative recipes. Baking
soda also deodorizes, removes stains, polishes and softens fabrics.

*Note*

There are some people who feel that ammonia and borax are other key
ingredients in alternative cleaners. It is true that they are both very
effective at cleaning, deodorizing and disinfecting. It is also true
that they are both quite harsh chemicals which can irritate the eyes,
nose, throat and skin, and can cause headaches, nausea and chest pain.
Additionally, when ammonia mixes with certain other cleaning products,
namely those which contain chlorine, poisonous gas can be created. For
these reasons, we have left ammonia and borax off the list of core
ingredients and out of the recipes.

One person can make a difference. But 100 people can make a bigger
difference. Spread the word about your environmental habits and get
others to do their part.

Get Involved
â—¦ Write your local energy utility asking them to promote energy
efficient programs, give customers financial incentives to use energy
efficient appliances and begin planning to provide alternatives to
fossil fuels and nuclear power.
â—¦ Join one of the many local environmental groups in your area that
work on issues ranging from local air and water pollution to effective
community recycling programs.
â—¦ Lobby your politicians, councilmembers and company leaders. Tell
them your concerns and ask them to clean up their acts.
â—¦ If there is an environmental issue in your community that concerns
you — start your own campaign.
â—¦ Organize a beach clean-up.
â—¦ Start a community curb-side composting program. You can then sell
the compost to gardeners and nurseries to help cover your costs.
â—¦ Make your community bicycle-friendly.
â—¦ Start a paint exchange with your neighbors. Use the opportunity to
educate your friends and neighbors about environmentally sound paint
use.
â—¦ Set up a "pollution patrol" to report any signs of pollution in
your local rivers, lakes, air and land.
â—¦ Organize a tree planting program.
â—¦ Conduct an environmental audit of City Hall. Put together a list of
environmental questions to ask your representative, city staff and
caretakers. Ask them about heating, light bulbs, lawn care, purchasing
policies, cleaning supplies, etc. Use the information you gather to
suggest changes. Give copies of the results to the people you spoke
with and send a copy to your local newspaper or environmental group.
â—¦ Organize a fundraiser and donate the proceeds to your favorite
environmental group — like Greenpeace (or other favorite environmental
group)!

There are many more things you can do in your home and community to
protect your local environment and the planet as a whole. If you have
other ideas — start your own campaign and let us know about your
successes!


The above courtesy of Greenpeace's website. For more great ideas and
information, please visit:
"http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/news/green-living-guide"